QAM VS ATSC Differences???

I need to have this clarified for me. I'm not sure if it is already posted.

ATSC is for digital transmissions Over the air only? If you subscribe to cable, you plug it in the corresponding port on the back of your TV and scan for channels. The channels you get are unencrypted ones. These are the same ones you would get if you plugged in a ext antenna?

QAM is for digital transmission over cable/fiber? If you subscribe to cable, you plug it in the corresponding port on the back of your TV and scan for channels. How many more channels do you get with a QAM tuner than with a ATSC. Do you need a service to utilize a QAM tuner in a TV?

You DO NOT NEED digital cable to get QAM channels. I never had digital cable but still my QAM tuner picked up all 3 networks in HD off of the cable. I let a friend borrow my QAM tuner after I went to HD cable and he only subscribes to cable internet. It still picked up all of the analog channels and the 3 QAM channels.

You DO NOT NEED digital cable to get QAM channels. I never had digital cable but still my QAM tuner picked up all 3 networks in HD off of the cable. I let a friend borrow my QAM tuner after I went to HD cable and he only subscribes to cable internet. It still picked up all of the analog channels and the 3 QAM channels.

You DO need a digital signal. You may subscribe to only analog service, but the digital signal is still present. There are many who subscribe to cable internet only-- and they can get (digital & analog) TV also when they split the coax. Many cable providers provide both digital and analog with their basic (analog) service; it is essentially the same as the basic digital service.

You DO need a digital signal. You may subscribe to only analog service, but the digital signal is still present. There are many who subscribe to cable internet only-- and they can get (digital & analog) TV also when they split the coax. Many cable providers provide both digital and analog with their basic (analog) service; it is essentially the same as the basic digital service.

I guess I meant to say that you do not need to SUBSCRIBE to digital cable. The tech that installed my HD DVR said that all signals exist in the cable, weather you subscribe to them or not.

I guess I meant to say that you do not need to SUBSCRIBE to digital cable. The tech that installed my HD DVR said that all signals exist in the cable, weather you subscribe to them or not.

So in order for me to view all the channels with a QAM tuner coming through my cable based on the packages I have, all those channels have to be unencrypted, right? If they are encrypted I would need a cable card or the infamous STB.

So in order for me to view all the channels with a QAM tuner coming through my cable based on the packages I have, all those channels have to be unencrypted, right? If they are encrypted I would need a cable card or the infamous STB.

I can pick up all 59 analog channels and 222 digital channels on my tuner, but I can only see the analog and 4 HD channels (CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS). I also get 39 DMX music channels (without any title information) but the rest of the 222 are blank.

I need to have this clarified for me. I'm not sure if it is already posted.

ATSC is for digital transmissions Over the air only? If you subscribe to cable, you plug it in the corresponding port on the back of your TV and scan for channels. The channels you get are unencrypted ones. These are the same ones you would get if you plugged in a ext antenna?

QAM is for digital transmission over cable/fiber? If you subscribe to cable, you plug it in the corresponding port on the back of your TV and scan for channels. How many more channels do you get with a QAM tuner than with a ATSC. Do you need a service to utilize a QAM tuner in a TV?

A lot of digital tuners in the most recent introduced tvs will have QAM ability. It's just not advertised or mentioned in specs. They'll pick up in the clear digital and digital HD channels without a STB. Sales pitches tend to direct and misguide the buyer to look at tvs with clearly labled QAM and cable card sets that may not even be nesc. I've got a cheapo 15" Insignia that has it, but is not mentioned anywhere in their specs.